Succession (Muwālāt)

1. The praying person should perform the acts of the prayer consecutively, i.e., one should not leave an unusually lengthy gap between the acts of prayer, e.g., bowing (rukū‘), prostrating (sajdah), and reciting the testament of faith (tashahhud) [the two fundamental pillars of faith]. If one leaves a lengthy break between the acts of prayer such that, according to an onlooker, it seems as if one were not praying, the prayer is invalid.

2. If one who inadvertently allows an unusual gap between the words or letters of one word (other than in the Takbir and Salaam), but the form of prayer is not disrupted and they realize it when they have entered the next foundational element (rukn), the prayer is correct. Hence, there is no need to repeat those words and phrases. However, if one realizes one’s mistake before entering the next foundational element (rukn), one should return and repeat them.

3. Prolonging the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) of the bowing (rukū‘) and prostration (sajdah) or reciting long chapters (surah) does not harm the succession (muwālāt) of prayer.

Special In-Prayer Supplication (Qunūt)

1. In all obligatory and recommended (mustaḥab) prayers, it is recommended (mustaḥab) that, in the second unit (Rak’ah), after recitation of Chapter (Surah) al-Fātiḥah and the second chapter (surah) but before bowing (rukū‘), one raises one’s hands with palms upward and recite a supplication. This ritual gesture is called the special in-prayer supplication (qunūt).

2. In the Friday prayer, the special in-prayer supplication (qunūt) is performed in the first unit (Rak’ah) before bowing (rukū‘) and in the second unit (Rak’ah) after bowing (rukū‘).

3. In the prayers of the Feast of Breaking Fast (‘Īd al-Fiṭr) and the Feast of Sacrifice (‘Īd al-Aḍḥā), in the first unit (Rak’ah), the special in-prayer supplication (qunūt) is performed five times, and in the second unit (Rak’ah), it is performed four times.

4. In the special in-prayer supplication (qunūt), any remembrance of Allah (dhikr), supplication or verse of the Quran may be recited. It suffices for one to recite one supplication for blessings on the Prophet and his family (salāwāt) «صلوات», or saying “subḥānallāh” «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ», “bismillāh” «بِسْمِ اللهِ», or “bismillāhir raḥmānir raḥīm” «بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمن الرَّحیمِ»; however, it is better by far to recite the supplications mentioned in the Holy Quran, e.g.,

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّار
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire or any remembrance of Allah (dhikr) quoted or relayed from any of the Infallible Imams, e.g.,
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ الْحَلِيْمُ الْكَرِيْمُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيْمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رَبِّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ، وَرَبِّ الْأَرَضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ، وَمَا فِيْهِنَّ وَمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَرَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِیْم، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ
There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. There is no god but Allah, the High, the Great. I declare emphatically that Allah is free from imperfections, [Allah,] Lord of the seven skies and all that is in them and all that is between them, and Lord of the Great Throne. And all praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds.

5. It is permissible to supplicate, ask Allah for His forgiveness, and ask for one’s needs in any language in the special in-prayer supplication (qunūt).

6. It is recommended (mustaḥab) to recite the special in-prayer supplication (qunūt) aloud, but in congregational prayers, it is not recommended (mustaḥab) if the leader (imam) of the prayer can hear the voice of the follower (Ma’mūm).

Recommended Supplications (Ta‘qīb) [Remembrances of Allah (Dhikr) Recited after obligatory prayers